Andrzej Otrębski · CC BY-SA 4.0 · edited
Sweden’s main rail line between Gothenburg and Stockholm will close between Gothenburg and Alingsås on five more weekends this autumn, starting on Friday, October 2. The closures, on the Västra stambanan (Western Main Line), run from Friday evening until Sunday afternoon on October 2 to 4, October 16 to 18, November 13 to 15, November 27 to 29 and December 11 to 13. Local and regional trains on that stretch are replaced by buses, and long-distance trains are diverted onto other lines.
For travelers, this matters most if you are taking the train between Gothenburg and Stockholm on a weekend this autumn. Your train may take a longer route via Borås or Vänersborg, and no official figure for the added time has been published, so check your journey close to departure. If you are traveling between Gothenburg and the towns east of the city, expect a bus for part of the trip.
If Stockholm is the other end of your journey, our guide to things to do in Stockholm can help you plan once you arrive.
- Section: Gothenburg to Alingsås on the Western Main Line.
- Weekends: Oct 2 to 4, Oct 16 to 18, Nov 13 to 15, Nov 27 to 29, Dec 11 to 13.
- Hours: Friday evening until 14:00 on Sunday.
- Local trains: replaced by buses between Gothenburg and Alingsås.
- Long-distance trains: diverted via Borås or Vänersborg.
Five Weekend Closures Between October and December
The Swedish Transport Administration, Trafikverket, lists autumn closures in weeks 36, 38, 40, 42, 46, 48 and 50, with the first two already past. It says a standard weekend closure runs from 22:00 on Friday to 14:00 on Sunday, that replacement services are provided for passenger trains, and that trains can be diverted from Herrljunga via Borås or via Vänersborg. The agency says the line has reached its maximum capacity and has a large maintenance need.
Västtrafik, the regional transport authority, lists the remaining dates as October 2 to 4, October 16 to 18, November 13 to 15, November 27 to 29 and December 11 to 13, with the track closed from 21:30 on Friday to 14:00 on Sunday. The two official pages give slightly different Friday start times, so plan around the earlier one.
Replacement Buses Between Gothenburg and Alingsås
Västtrafik says all trains between Gothenburg and Alingsås are replaced by buses during the closures, with some stops moved: Aspen is served from Ekebacken, Norsesund from Ingared and Västra Bodarna from a stop on the E20.
Long-Distance Trains Take Longer Routes
Infrastrukturnyheter, reporting on September 2, said passenger and freight trains are rerouted via other lines during the closures, with one path via Borås to Herrljunga and another via Vänersborg and Öxnered to Herrljunga, where trains rejoin the main line toward Stockholm. It said the work replaces electrical power systems and continues on weekends into 2027, with longer stoppages of several days planned next year. It added that the diversions put more passenger and freight trains than usual on the alternative lines, including at night.
SJ and other operators set their own diverted timetables, and we did not find a published figure for the extra journey time. Book with an operator that shows the diverted schedule, or search your exact date in the operator’s app before travel. If you are flexible, traveling on a Friday before the evening closure or after 14:00 on Sunday avoids the diversion entirely.
| If you are traveling… | What to do |
|---|---|
| Gothenburg to Stockholm on an affected weekend | Check the diverted timetable and allow extra time. |
| Gothenburg to Alingsås or stops in between | Take the replacement bus and check moved stops. |
| On a weekday | These autumn closures are weekend-only. |
| With a tight onward connection | Choose an earlier train or move your trip. |
Planning Tips for Affected Weekends
Search your trip in Västtrafik’s To Go app or journey planner for regional travel, as the authority advises, and check SJ’s booking for long-distance trains. If you land at Gothenburg Landvetter and plan to continue by rail on one of these weekends, build in extra time or consider flying into Stockholm instead. Our report on Etihad’s new Gothenburg flights from December 17 covers one of the ways into the city this winter.
If your Swedish trip continues across the Baltic, our guide to the Stockholm to Turku ferry covers the overnight crossing to Finland.
October 2 to 4. The next weekend closure.
Friday evening to Sunday 14:00. Each closure window.
Buses and diversions. Local trains replaced, long-distance trains rerouted.
When is the Gothenburg to Alingsås line closed?
On October 2 to 4, October 16 to 18, November 13 to 15, November 27 to 29 and December 11 to 13, 2026.
Do trains still run from Gothenburg to Stockholm?
Yes, but they are diverted via Borås or Vänersborg to Herrljunga, so journeys may take longer.
Are there replacement buses?
Yes. Västtrafik replaces trains between Gothenburg and Alingsås with buses.
Why is the line closing?
For maintenance and upgrades, including new electrical power systems.
